Gauging tool



H. H. TALBOYS Feb. 2s, 195oA GAUGING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 15, 1946 Im K QB H. H. TALBOYS Feb. 28, 1950 GAUGING TOOL 2 sheetswsheet' 2 Filled April l5, 1946 f0.7* faery/2f 27a/Mays atented Feb. 28, 1.95

l; My invention relatesto an improvement in track or rail gauges and'has forE onef'purposeto provide a track gauge eiective'for` use inycoriel nection with laying rai1s,=suchas the rails otrail-k road tracks.

. Another purposeis to provide agauging* tool which" may be applied toa fixed rail of atrack andmay befemployed to movef'the other looserail toward or away from the fixed rail, priorv tortiie securing ofthe loose rail to the ties;

Another purpose is to providea rail gauge which can-beemployed to shift aflooserailitdthe proper distance from-=a-'xed rail; without-tilting the loose rail fromitsdesired position-.f

Another purpose is to provide awgaugewhich is. eiective to gauge a rail', whether theVrai-lwis set wideror narrower than the desired gauge?- Another purposeis to provide ar-simple; comfpact and light trackgauge structure;

Another purpose isy to-provide indicatingtmeans to indicate when the gauge-isproperly engaged with the rail; y

Other purposes will appear-irom1-time Lto tirne in the course ofthe specificationandeclaimsrk I illustrate the inventionmore or less diagram*- matically in the accompanying drawingswher e in:

Fig-ure 1` isa sectiontaken in-a planefperpendicular to the longvextension ofA the'rails; Figure 2isv a 4similar Section5 witfpa` portion omitted, illustrating -the parts. ina different'position; Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3fofl-Fgul'el;`

Figure'4 is a section on the lineA--II of Figure'l;`

Figure is an enlarged-section onthe line- 5-5 of Figure 4;.

Figure 6V is asection onthe-1ine-6=6 Aof-"Fig ure 11; land Like parts? areindicated by?.` likesymbols throughout the speciiicat-ion f and drawings?.

Referring` to the drawings, I" generallyffindii cates afrailroadV tie upon-fwhch rests the'bottom flange 3 of l the lfixedk'rail 2, @tof'which thef gauging tool may be'secured,\inf order to gauge-lor move the opposite rail into proper relation lwithflthe rail 2 ;4 4 `indicates 'the topf'flan'gecornmonly called the head or balloflthe' rail 2; The 3"oppositetr-ail 2a isvindicated with itsI bottom'flang'e Saffaridcits head Ilan` I illustratel any." suitabler'gauge lbody memberlwhichispansthe rails:` It-may include forfexamplelsidewebs or-walls5';f6,which-mayrbe 2 lightened by apertures 5115,64! and are shown with overlapping top andybottomflanges secured, fjor example, by metallic pement.; 'I `indicatesthe top wall component of the thus'formed gauging bodyor fra-me and\8 ,the bottom component. `1t will be noticed thatl the top component is` broken away at 'Iaand 'Ib, for purposesiwhich will later appear, `and the bottom` component tis broken away at 8a for'a purpose which will later appear.

I I- indicates' fixed bracket membersV extending downwardlyfrom angle members or'supports I Ia on Walls i'randill of thebodymember, each having an' outwardly generallyupright gauging face" I2 which may beopposed-to" theinner face of the head 4 of therail '2i Si4 is amjovabl'eV abutment having an adjustable element I0 adapted'to 4engage the opposite or outer piace of the head 4 of the rail 2, the member 9 being? unitary with the lever 23l which is"pivoted as at 24 to the gauge body;

I5 is" an actuatingV lever having the upper extension I6 'in removable, telescopic relation there-f withi It is provided with afpin'. I'I extending through slots I8 in the side walls 5, 6 and adapted to/actuate a'nadjustablev link structure including end portions I9 and20 connected by the adjusting rod 2|, which may be screw-threadedat its oppositeends to both' I9 'and 2li, thus providingan adjustable link. Pivoted to` the endof; the por-- tion 2-I-'as at 2U' is fthe upper end' of the' lever 231.

Thus, as the lever I5! is rotatedfaboutitspivot- Il impartsanendwise movement to4 the link='as sembly I9, 20' andiZI, For example if the upper'end of the lever. I5 isl moved to the right; referring to the'posjtion of the parts as shown'in Figure 1; the lever 23w-ill be given a clockwise rotation, which will urge the abutment In against" the outer A face of the Wgrail head 4. Thus the movement of the lever I5 will result infdrawing? thefface I 2 of the abutment- I I rmlyfagainstlthe'inner face of the 4headgl, putting the gauging body in the proper position to gauge theopposite or loose rail.j

The lower'erd'fof the lever I5, below its' center pint-I1, has pivoted `to it at25renoppositely' ex? tending actuating link 26; The link or rod 25 is-shown as adjustably secured to thelink end portion'ZI` which is pi'votedV` as at; 28 to Atheup,L wardly extending lever portion 29a of the gaugingfhook- 29.r The gauging hook includes opiposite downwardly extendingv armsY 3D andI having'rernovable', hardened tips on ends 30111 nd 3Ia adapted to engage the web of the rail 2a.in termediate the top and the bottomiof the vrail.

-It willl be noted-that the hook structure or gaugiing member is pivoted as at 32, to the gauging body, the pivot being adjacent the lower face of the body. Secured to the side members 5, 6 of the gauging body are blocks 33 adapted to engage the top head 4a of the said rail 2a.

In order to limit or fix the distance between the two rails I provide a movable gauging abutment member 34, in the form of a fork adapted to engage the inner face of the head 4a of the loose rail 2a. It is screw threaded or otherwise adjustably mounted upon a stem 35. The forward gauging tips or ends 36 are downwardly bent so that they can extend downwardly through the aperture 8a in proper rail engaging position when their intermediate portion 31 is resting upon the bottom wall of the gauging body, in the position shown in Figure l. The stem 35 is pivoted as at 38 to an adjusting arm 39. The coil spring 40 extends between an abutment aperture 4I in the lower wall of the gauging body, and an end of vthe stem 35. It is adapted normally to urge the lever 39 about its axis 42. The lever 39 carries a top plate 43 having an adjusting pin 44 which may be opposed to the adjusting cam 45, pivoted as at 46 between the exterior reinforcements 41. It will be noted that the lever 39 includes two components which extend about the cam 45, on opposite sides thereof, as shown in Figure 4. The cam 45 is provided with a camming face 50 in which are formed a plurality of adjusting apertures 5I adapted selectively to receive the pin 44.

'I'he user can gauge the eiective distance between the tips 36 of the gauge member 34 and the face I2 of the xed abutment II by withdrawing the plate 43 slightly and rotating the cam 45 to oppose the desired aperture 5I to the pin 44. The spring 4I! is elective to rotate the lever assembly 39 counterclockwise about its axis 42, thereby holding the pin 44 engaged in its appropriate aperture 5I, and maintaining the plate y43 in gauging relationship with the opposed face of the cam. Thus as the cam 45 is rotated in one direction, it decreases the distance between the surfaces I2 and 36. When rotated in the opposite direction it increases said distance.

Note also that pivoted to the member 31 are indicating pins 60 each having a head or top portion 6I which maybe colored red, extending upwardly through the apertures 62 in the upper wall of the gauging body. When the member 34 has dropped to the proper position, in which it is shown in Figure 1, the heads 6I are in lowered position, as shown in Figure 1. But if the portions 36 ride on the top of the rail, as shown in Figure 2, then the heads 6I are fully exposed, and warn the user that the rails 2 and 2a are not in proper position.

Any suitable carrying handle or handles 'lil may be employed, for example in raising and lowering the gauge.

It will be realized that, whereas, I have described and illustrated a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to my precise showing.

The use and operation of the invention are asfollows:

Assume that the rail 2 is already secured to the ties of a track, and that the loose rail 2a is in approximately correct position. The user spans the two rails with the gauging body, positioning the head 4 of the fixed rail between the abutments IIJ, and II, dropping the hooks 30 and 3| about the opposite sides of the loose rail 2a. If the loose rail is outwardly out of place in relation to the xed rail 2, the user moves the handle I5 to the right, referring to the position of the parts as shown in Figure 1, and thereby urges the abutment II] to the left against the rail head 4. The result is to bring the abutment face I2 of the member II snugly against the inner face of the iixed rail head 4. A continued movement of the lever I5 to the right will have no further'eifect on the positioning of the link 2|, and the pivot pin I'I is held against further rightward movement in the slot I8. Thereafter, the lower end of the lever I5, moving to the left rotates counterclockwise about the pivot 32 and thrusts the hook point 30a against the web of the rail 2a, urging it to the right against the abutment 36. When this movement lis completed the two rails are properly gauged apart, the loose rail being held against the abutment 36, and the abutment II spacing the loose rail 2a in relation to the fixed rail 2. It will be noted that since the thrust of the hook portion 30a is intermediate between the top and the bottom of the rail there is no tendency to tilt the rail or to disturb the normal or desired plane of the lower face of the ange 3a.

If the loose rail is somewhat too close to the xed rail when the gauging body is laid on the two rails, the abutment 36 is free to pivot upwardly about its axis 38, as is indicated in Figure 2, and will rest on the upper surface of the top rail head 4a. A rotation of the lever I5 in a counterclockwise direction will cause the opposite hook point 3Ia to thrust outwardly against the web of the loose rail. As the rail is urged to the left, referring to the position of the parts in Figure 1, the raised abutment 36 will override the rail until it is free to drop into the position in which it is shown in Figure 1. The indicator 6I indicates when this has taken place. Thereafter the direction of rotation of the lever I5 may be reversed, and the loose rail urged against the abutment 36, the nal gauging being between the abuttingr surfaces I2 and 36. The cam 45 may be adjusted to vary the spacing between rails, as may be necessary when laying rails about curves.

I claim:

1. In a track gauge, a gauge body adapted to span the rails of a track, an abutment fixed in relation to said body, adapted to be opposed to an inner face of a rail fixed on the track, a gauge member, movably located on said body, and including an end portion adapted to engage the inner face of a loose rail, means for initially urging said fixed abutment against the inner face of the lxed rail and means for thereafter urging a loose rail against said gauge member.

2. In a track gauge, a gauge body adapted to span the rails of a track, an abutment xed in relation to said body, adapted to be opposed to an inner face of a rail fixed on the track, a gauge member, movably located on said body, and including an end portion adapted to engage the inner face of a loose rail, and unitary means for initially urging said fixed abutment against the inner face of the fixed rail and for thereafter urging a loose rail against said gauge member.

3. In a track gauge, a gauge body adapted to span the rails of a track, an abutment fixed in tia-,tisane 'relation to sata body, adapted 'te beeppese to `:including a single, manually operable 'floating c`lever supported on lsaid gauge body, a leverpivoted 'at each end of said body including exterior 'to each rail, `and link connections A'between each `said last mentioned 'lever and "said oating lever.

4. In Va track gauge, a gauge body adapted to span the rails of a track, Ian abutment fixed in relation to said b'ody, adapted to be opposed to inner face of a rail fixed 'on the track,iazg'auge member, movably located on said body, and '1including an end portion adapted to engage the inner face of a loose rail, and unitary means for initially urging said fixed abutment against the inner face of the fixed rai-l an'dffor'thereafter urging a loose rail against said gauge member, including a single, manually operable floating lever supported on said gauge body, a lever movable on one end of said gauge body, to move the body in a direction to move said fixed abutment against the fixed rail, a lever movable on the opposite side of said gauge body adapted to move said lose rail toward said movable gauge member, and actuating connections between both said members and said lever.

5. In a track gauge, a body adapted to span the rails of a track, an abutment, normally fixed in relation to said body, adapted to be opposed to an inner face of a rail fixed on said track, a lever on said body, adapted to be thrust against an outer face of said fixed rail, thereby to urge said fixed abutment against the said inner face of said fixed rail, a gauging member positioned adjacent the opposite end of said body element and adapted to engage an inner face of a loose rail on said track, and a lever movably mounted on said body, adapted to move said loose rail against said gauging member.

6. In a track gauge, a gauge body adapted to span the rails of a track, an abutment fixed in relation to said body, adapted to be opposed to an inner face of a rail fixed on the track, a movable element on said body, including an end portion adapted to engage the inner face of a loose rail, a lever for initially moving said gauge body to urge said fixed abutment against the inner face of the xed rail, a second lever adapted thereafter to urge a loose rail against said movable element, and indicating means responsive to changes in position of said movable element, adapted to indicate the location of said movable element.

7. In a track gauge, a gauge body adapted to span the rails of a track, an abutment fixed in relation to said body, adapted to be opposed to an inner face of a rail fixed on the track, a gauge element, movably located on said body, and including an end portion adapted to engage the inner face of a loose rail, means for initially urging said fixed abutment against the inner face of the fixed rail, means for thereafter urging a loose rail against said gauge element, and means for adjusting the effective gauging position of said gauge element.

8. In a track gauge, a gauge body adapted to span the rails of a track, an abutment, fixed in relation to said body, adapted to be opposed to t a inner faceff a fraiiinx'ed 'en the `traek, a :movably mounted gauge t"element adapted 'to engage the 'firmer fface of fan opposite rail, means for urgin'g 'fixed abutment against "the inner face of the 'fixed rail 'and 4for lurging the inner Lface of the "lo'ose rail against said gauge element.

-9. In a track gauge, Sa gauge ybody adaptedto span'the'frails of a track, lan abutment, fixed .in relation-to said body, adapted 'to be opposed to 'afn'inner 'face of 1a Erail fixed'on the track, a -movably mounted gauge element adapted 'to vengage the *inner v face of 'an opposite -lrail, means 'for 'urg- Vin'g said fixed eabutment against the 'inner 'face of the fixed rail 'and for urging the l'inner 'face of 'theleose rail against said gauge element, inelnding a handle movable on said gauge bodya membermbvable on said gauge body, adapted "to 'e 4""'ge en -outer face of said 'fixed rail, an Vactuating -fcerinectien between said member and Ysaid handle adapted, in response to lsaid movement essaie handle, to draw-:said fixed abutment against theinner race `o'f the 'fixed rail, an 'actuating fork having tines adapted Ito Ibe ypositioned at opposite sides Vof said loose rail, and an `actuating connection between said fork and said handle.

10. In a track gauge, a transversely slidable gauge body adapted to span the rails of a track, a fixed abutment for fixing said gauge body in relation to a rail fixed on the track, adapted to engage the inner face of said fixed rail, and means for gauging a loose rail in relation to said fixed rail, including a gauge abutment, movable on said gauge body, and adapted to engage an inner face of the loose rail, and a lever adapted to move said loose rail thereagainst.

11. In a track gauge, a gauge body adapted to span the rails of a track, means for fixing said gauge body in relation to a rail fixed on the track, and means for gauging a loose rail in relation to said fixed rail, including a positioning abutment, movable on said gauge body, and adapted to engage an inner face of the loose rail, and means for moving said loose rail thereag'ainst, including a fork having tines adapted to engage opposite sides of said loose rail, and means for moving said fork to push the loose rail either toward or from the fixed rail, said positioning abutment being adapted to ride on the top of said loose rail, when said loose rail is initially too close to said fixed rail, and signal means adapted to indicate when said positioning abutment is in raised position on said loose rail.

12. In a track gauge, a gauge body adapted to span the rails of a track, means for fixing said gauge body in relation to a rail fixed on the track, and means for gauging a loose rail in relation to said fixed rail, including a positioning abutment, movable on said gauge body, and adapted to engage an inner face of the loose rail, and means for moving said loose rail thereagainst, including a fork having tines adapted to engage opposite sides of said loose rail, and means for moving said fork to push the loose rail either toward or from the fixed rail, said positioning abutment being adapted to ride on the top of said loose rail, When'said loose rail is initially too close to said fixed rail, and means for adjusting said positioning abutment.

13. In a track gauge, a gauge body adapted to span the rails of a track, means for fixing said gauge body in relation to a rail fixed on the track, and means for gauging a loose rail in relation to said fixed rail, including a positioning abutment, movable on said gauge body, and

adapted to engage an inner face of the loosefrail, and means for moving said loose rail thereagainst, including a fork having tines adapted to engage opposite sides of said loose rail, and means for moving said fork to push the loose rail either toward or from the fixed rail, said positioning abutment being adapted to ride on the top of said loose rail, when said loose rail is initially too close to said fixed rail, and means for adjusting said positioning abutment, including a lever secured to one end of said abutment, an adjusting cam engageable with the other end of the lever, and yielding means adapted normally to urge said lever against said cam.

14. In a track gauge, a gauge body adapted to span the rails of a track, means for fixing said gauge body in relation to a rail fixed on the track, and means for gauging a loose rail in relation to said xed rail, including a positioning abutment,

movable on said gauge body, and adapted to engage an inner face of the loose rail, and means for moving said loose rail thereagainst, including a fork having tines adapted to engage opposite sides of said loose rail, and means for moving said fork to push the loose rail either toward or from the fixed rail, said positioning abutment being adapted to ride on the top of said loose rail, when said loose rail is initially too close to said xed rail, and means for adjusting said positioning abutment, including a lever secured to one end of said abutment, an adjusting cam engageable with the other end of the lever, and yielding means adapted normally to urge said lever against said cam, said lever having a positioning pin opposed to said cam, said cam having a plurality of apertures adapted respectively to receive said pin at various positions of the lever.

HENRY H. TALBOYS.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Cooper et al. Oct. l, 1940 Number 

